Our Name
Our name was derived from a particular place that is part of the rugged beauty that surrounds us. Standing next to Denali (Mount McKinley) is a lesser known peak called Mount Foraker. Back in 2001, Foraker seemed an appropriate name for our newly founded organization. We viewed Denali as a metaphor for the nonprofit sector with Mount Foraker standing right next to it. Foraker is part of the landscape but does not overshadow Denali, the highly esteemed landmark for Alaskans.
That's how we viewed The Foraker Group -- "standing beside" Alaska's nonprofit professionals, working with them to build effective, strategic and sustainable organizations.
As we further researched the name, we learned that Mount Foraker was named for a 19th century United States Senator from Ohio. Senator Foraker tried to ensure that African Americans serving their country in the military had the same rights and privileges as their Caucasian counterparts. He tried to honor them and improve their lives. Regrettably, he was removed from office before he could achieve his goal.
While Senator Foraker lost his initial battle, he eventually was immortalized for his courage and effort in a stately Alaska mountain peak. Our intent is to honor that history by working as a partner with Alaska's nonprofit boards, staff and volunteers to improve the lives of all Alaskans.
